Texas Governor Perry
Disabilities Header

Contact Disabilities

  • Phone: (512) 463-5739
  • Email: GCPD@governor.state.tx.us
  • Fax: (512) 463-5745
  • For relay services dial 711 or your relay provider of choice
  • Address: 1100 San Jacinto
    Austin, Texas 78701

Members of the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities

The Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities consists of 12 volunteer members appointed by the Governor, seven of whom must be persons with disabilities. Ex-officio members and advisory representatives represent state agencies serving people with disabilities. Committee members meet at least quarterly. Learn more about committee law in the Texas Human Resources Code Chapter 115.

*Indicates a member who is filling a required position of person with a disability.

  • *Judy C. Scott, Chair, Dallas, Executive Director, American Foundation for the Blind and AFB Center on Vision Loss, Dallas
  • *Alan R. Babin, Jr., Retired Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medic/Veteran, Round Rock
  • *Aaron W. Bangor, PhD, Human Factors Group, AT & T, Austin
  • *Rodolpho “Rudy” Becerra, Jr., Senior, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches
  • *Joe Bontke, Outreach Manager & Ombudsman for EEOC, Houston
  • Daphne Brookins, Instructor for Texas Christian University’s Upward Bound Program, Forest Hill
  • Peggy Cosner, Executive Director of Heart of Central Texas Independent Living Center Belton
  • *David A. Fowler, National Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America and President of the Texas Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, Katy
  • *Bobby Z. “Robby” Holcomb, Jr., Minister of Pastoral Care for South Jefferson Baptist Church
  • *Maureen F. McClain, Associate Director of Disability Services at the University of Texas-Pan American, Brownsville
  • Brian D. Shannon, Charles B. Thornton Professor of Law, Texas Tech University, Lubbock
  • Kathy Strong, Director, Nacogdoches Treatment Center, Nacogdoches

Featured Member: Aaron Bangor, PhD CHFP

Principal Member of Technical Staff, AT&T Labs, Inc.

Aaron Bangor has worked in the Human Factors Engineering group at AT&T for nearly ten years.  He does usability and accessibility research and design work for a variety of telecommunications and entertainment services, including automated customer service systems, web sites, wireless devices, and TV services.  His goal is to help make technology easier to use for all people, regardless of their unique combination of capabilities and limitations.

A native of Maryland, Aaron attended Virginia Tech where he majored in industrial and system engineering and economics.  While studying engineering, he learned about the field of human factors, which seeks to find ways to make technology easier to use by people.  He continued his studies at Virginia Tech, earning a Master’s and Ph.D. in human factors.  His graduate research studied electronic text readability for people with visual impairments and eyestrain at computer workstations.

After leaving Virginia Tech, Dr. Bangor began work at SBC Technology Resources (later AT&T Labs) in Austin, where he works today.  He has published several peer-reviewed papers and spoken frequently on the topic of human factors and Universal Design.  He currently holds four patents and has many more pending.  In addition to his human factors responsibilities at AT&T, Aaron is a subject matter expert within the company regarding making products and services more accessible to people with disabilities, including acting as one of the AT&T Labs representatives to AT&T’s Advisory Panel on Access and Aging.

Outside of work, Aaron is actively involved in the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, where he serves as program chair for the Communications Technical Group and was part editor of the recently approved American national standard: “Human Factors Engineering of Software User Interfaces,” which includes guidance on how to make software easier to use and more accessible.  He also serves on a U.S. technical advisory committee to the International Standards Organization for human factors standards.  Since 2004 Dr. Bangor has been a Certified Human Factors Professional.

"It is an honor to represent the interests of Texans with disabilities.  In particular, I am proud to lend my technical skills to the State regarding the interaction of people with technology, especially for a population that has gained so much because of it and has even more to gain from technology being made accessible to them.”

 

 

Member Profiles

Judy C. Scott, Chair, of Dallas.  She is director of the American Foundation for the Blind Center on Vision Loss.  She is a member of the Reading and Radio Resource for the Blind Advisory Committee, and past chair of the Vision Services Consortium, Texas State Independent Living Council, and Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.  She is also a past member of the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Blind Services, Texas Rehabilitation Commission Rehabilitation Advisory Councils, and access committees for the American Airlines Arena and the International Terminal at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.  Scott received bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Alan Richard Babin, Jr. of Round Rock is a retired United States Army Veteran medic.  He was awarded the Bronze Star with ‘V' for Valor and the Purple Heart.  He is a member of the American Legion, the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, The Retired Enlisted Association and the Texas Paralyzed Veteran's Association.

Aaron W. Bangor of Austin is principal member of the AT&T Labs Inc. technical staff.  He is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.  He is also board certified in professional ergonomics as a Certified Human Factors Professional.  Bangor received bachelor's degrees, a master's degree and doctoral degree in human factors engineering from Virginia Tech University.

Rodolfo "Rudy" Becerra, Jr. of Nacogdoches is a library student assistant and disability consultant to the director of disabilities at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU).  He is a charter member and president of the SFASU chapter of the Golden Key Honor Society.  He is also a volunteer with the Nacogdoches Wagon Wheel Program.

Joe Bontke of Houston is the Outreach Manger and Ombudsman for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Houston District Office.  He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, HR (Human Resources) Houston and the Mayor's Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities.  Bontke is a graduate of Leadership Houston and volunteers as a CCE teacher for St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Community.  He received a bachelor's degree from St. Alphonsus College and a master's degree from Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary.

Daphne Brookins of Forest Hill is a case manager for the Presbyterian Night Shelter.  She is the President of the Texas Wesleyan Alumni Board of Directors and President/CEO of the Tarrant County Youth Summit.  Brookins is a member of the Southeast Fort Worth Dropout Coalition and the Director's Circle with Girls, Inc.  She is the appointed coordinator of the Forest Hill Youth Advisory Commission and Co-Chair of the Developer of National Community Service Day for the Metroplex.  Brookins is a former City of Forest Hill City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem.  She was the 2009 recipient of Mayor Mike Moncrief's Believing in Youth Award.  She received a bachelor's degree from Texas Wesleyan University.

Peggy Cosner is the executive director for the Heart of Texas Center for Independent Living Center.  She currently serves on the board of the Texas Rehabilitation Association and has served as the past president of the board.  She has also served as past president of the Bell County Judge and Commissioner Committee for Persons with Disabilities and the Temple Exchange Club.  She received her bachelor's degree in social work from Michigan State University.  She won an award in 2007 for "Best Center for Independent Living Practices in Rural Community Participation."

David A. Fowler of Katy is a retired U.S. Army Veteran.  He is the National Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America and the President of the Texas Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.  He is the Vice President and Advocacy Director of the Texas Paralyzed Veteran's Association and a commissioner on the Houston Commission on Disabilities.  Fowler is a member of the Houston Veteran's Association, the Disabled American Veterans and the 82nd Airborne Association.  Fowler attended Houston Community College.

Bobby Z. "Robby" Holcomb, Jr. of Mount Pleasant is a Minister of Pastoral Care for South Jefferson Baptist Church.  He is a chaplain for Titus Regional Medical Center.  He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Maureen F. McClain of Pharr is associate director of disability services at the University of Texas-Pan American.  She is a member of the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities, and was appointed to the Academic Advisement Council.  She is a past member of the Rio Grande Valley Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors.  McClain received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in rehabilitative counseling from The University of Texas Pan American.

Brian D. Shannon of Lubbock is a professor of law for Texas Tech University School of Law.  He is the current president of the Lubbock County Bar Association and an elected member to the American Law Institute.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Lubbock Regional Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board of Directors and the Lubbock Dispute Resolution Center Advisory Board.  Shannon was named the 2004 Outstanding Alumnus from Angelo State University.  He served in the United States Air Force and received a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University.  Shannon also received a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Kathy Strong of Garrison is executive director of the Nacogdoches Treatment Center.  She is an ex-officio member of the Nacogdoches Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities, a member of the State of Texas Guardianship Certification Board, and president of the Nacogdoches Handicapped Housing Board of Directors.  She is also a member of the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee and the Leadership Nacogdoches Steering Committee.  Strong received a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Ex Officio Members, Representatives and Advisors

Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
Adelaide Horn, Commissioner
Marc Gold, Texas Promoting Independence Initiative

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
Terrell I. Murphy, Commissioner
Karissa Garcia, Stakeholder Relations

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
Carey Cockrell, Commissioner
Donna Stephans, Director, Policy and Innovation

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
Albert Hawkins, Executive Commissioner
Clare Seagraves, Senior Policy Analyst

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
David L. Lakey, MD, Commissioner
Luanne Southern, Deputy Commissioner

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
William H. Kuntz, Jr. Executive Director
Robert Posey, Manager Architectural Barriers Program

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
Tom Pauken, Chairman
George McEntyre, WIA Policy/Program Assistance Supervisor

Contact GCPD 512-463-5739